| This World Cup 22:14 - Jun 26 with 8775 views | SaintNick |
Is geared towards making sure none of the big hitters go out early doors and cost the tv companies millions in lost advertising.
Why does the tournament need to last something like 6 weeks, the only reason is to draw out the profits to be made by everyone bar the fans who are shafted on all sides.
What utter b8llocks that 8 of the 12 3rd placed teams go through |  |
| Satisfying The Bloodlust Of The Masses In Peacetime |
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| This World Cup on 22:17 - Jun 26 with 8035 views | SaintNick |
PS Are Scotland actually out now ? Nobody seems to know | |
| Satisfying The Bloodlust Of The Masses In Peacetime |
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| This World Cup on 22:21 - Jun 26 with 7992 views | Southamptonfan |
All about making money. That's what top level football is nowadays, unfortunately. [Post edited 26 Jun 22:24]
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| This World Cup on 22:24 - Jun 26 with 7988 views | Southamptonfan |
| This World Cup on 22:17 - Jun 26 by SaintNick |
PS Are Scotland actually out now ? Nobody seems to know |
Scotland not out yet. Waiting for other results. | |
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| This World Cup on 22:46 - Jun 26 with 7892 views | kingslandstand1 |
| This World Cup on 22:24 - Jun 26 by Southamptonfan |
Scotland not out yet. Waiting for other results. |
The fans are probably deemed as good PR for Infantino so he'll do his best to get them through no doubt |  |
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| This World Cup on 23:04 - Jun 26 with 7863 views | PatfromPoole |
The layout of the comp is one of the main reasons why I have so little interest in it.
Have watched the 2 England games and that’s all.
No idea how well we compare with the other top nations, but to have left Palmer at home and taken Henderson seems bonkers.
Gather the attendances have been decent; quite surprised. |  |
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| This World Cup on 23:58 - Jun 26 with 7806 views | Gennaro_Contaldo |
| This World Cup on 23:04 - Jun 26 by PatfromPoole |
The layout of the comp is one of the main reasons why I have so little interest in it.
Have watched the 2 England games and that’s all.
No idea how well we compare with the other top nations, but to have left Palmer at home and taken Henderson seems bonkers.
Gather the attendances have been decent; quite surprised. |
I've watched quite a few matches, some of the 'lesser' teams have been great to watch.
Watching the big teams, France will cruise the World Cup if they continue like this. They didn't get out of 2nd gear and brushed Norway aside easily today. |  |
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| This World Cup on 02:19 - Jun 27 with 7739 views | Wints76 |
| This World Cup on 23:58 - Jun 26 by Gennaro_Contaldo |
I've watched quite a few matches, some of the 'lesser' teams have been great to watch.
Watching the big teams, France will cruise the World Cup if they continue like this. They didn't get out of 2nd gear and brushed Norway aside easily today. |
With 48 teams, you would think the main footballing nations would on the whole get through, but some of the lesser nations have been fun to watch and some go on to learn and improve. Japan weren't even thought of as a football nation until the late 90s, and now I wouldnt be that surprised if they beat Brazil in the next round.
But from what I have seen so far, Spain (my pre tournament favourites) haven't really fully clicked, but I can't see who will stop France. They seem to have goals coming from all over. It may need some sh1thousery from the likes of Argentina to stop them
Also, best 3rd place teams.going through isn't a new thing. In 86 & 90, 16 of the 24 qualifiers made it to the next round. Hard not to qualify (so well done to Scotland, who managed to not qualify both times. Bless them) [Post edited 27 Jun 2:23]
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| This World Cup on 10:28 - Jun 27 with 7520 views | City_boy |
I have seen the England Games and Scotland v Brazil, but still struggling to get enthusiastic about it.
The 48 team set up is wrong, but money talks. Teams qualifying after 1 win and best 8 3rd placed qualifying is madness. To think Scotland were still in the running, (depending on other results) with only a slim 1 win against Haiti, really devalues the competition.
Last night Norway made 10 changes against France ? Unlikely they would have done that under the old format.
I am surprised at the attendances. Leading up to the start, the media was pushing the story that tickets weren't selling. I can only assume prices came down or we under estimated the loyalty and determination of many fans. [Post edited 27 Jun 14:43]
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| This World Cup on 12:33 - Jun 27 with 7442 views | solent_toffee |
| This World Cup on 23:04 - Jun 26 by PatfromPoole |
The layout of the comp is one of the main reasons why I have so little interest in it.
Have watched the 2 England games and that’s all.
No idea how well we compare with the other top nations, but to have left Palmer at home and taken Henderson seems bonkers.
Gather the attendances have been decent; quite surprised. |
Talks of Henderson starting this evening. Utterly baffling. As you say, not picking Palmer for the squad is very strange. As is taking injury prone players such as Reece James. [Post edited 27 Jun 12:35]
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| This World Cup on 12:53 - Jun 27 with 7412 views | dirk_doone |
Cape Verde finished 2nd in their group yet they get drawn against the reigning champions, Argentina. Why doesn't one of the 3rd placed teams get drawn against them? It makes no sense. Football fans would have loved to see Cape Verde get through to the next stage, but I guess their national TV audience and contribution to advertising revenue isn't considered big enough.
Anyway, it's all geared towards another Messi v Mbappe final, only this time, you'd expect Mbappe to win.. |  |
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| This World Cup on 17:31 - Jun 27 with 7258 views | GRIM |
| This World Cup on 12:33 - Jun 27 by solent_toffee |
Talks of Henderson starting this evening. Utterly baffling. As you say, not picking Palmer for the squad is very strange. As is taking injury prone players such as Reece James. [Post edited 27 Jun 12:35]
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Agreed that Reece James shouldn't be there.
He not an international defender & look at his injury record.
He misses more games than he plays.
John Stones is another who's always injured.
Defensively we're going to miss Harry Maguire | | | |
| This World Cup on 17:45 - Jun 27 with 7242 views | kingslandstand1 |
| This World Cup on 12:53 - Jun 27 by dirk_doone |
Cape Verde finished 2nd in their group yet they get drawn against the reigning champions, Argentina. Why doesn't one of the 3rd placed teams get drawn against them? It makes no sense. Football fans would have loved to see Cape Verde get through to the next stage, but I guess their national TV audience and contribution to advertising revenue isn't considered big enough.
Anyway, it's all geared towards another Messi v Mbappe final, only this time, you'd expect Mbappe to win.. |
And Trump is already negotiating the 2038 tournament
Pathetic | |
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| This World Cup on 09:38 - Jun 28 with 6985 views | Berber |
Nine of the last thirty two teams have scored an average of one goal or less for the three qualifying group games. Ghana is one of them. A horrible indication of 1960s Italian football in the case of them, Hopeless over representation of poor national teams for the rest. As to the ones going home, all 3rd raters. This surely is not good for football, but un doubtedly good for the sleazy Infantino. |  |
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| This World Cup on 10:49 - Jun 28 with 6929 views | kingolaf |
Apart from the hydration breaks I’m a big fan of this World Cup.
Especially refereeing - cracking down on timewasting, wrestling at corners and not being sucked in by all the diving. VAR is quick as well. | | | |
| This World Cup on 10:50 - Jun 28 with 6927 views | Ifonly |
| This World Cup on 23:58 - Jun 26 by Gennaro_Contaldo |
I've watched quite a few matches, some of the 'lesser' teams have been great to watch.
Watching the big teams, France will cruise the World Cup if they continue like this. They didn't get out of 2nd gear and brushed Norway aside easily today. |
France has to be the best team and squad at the world cup. They have so many quality players to choose from. It's amazing that 98 players at the world cup were born in France. That's nearly 4 squads full and doesn't even include the 3 players in the France squad who were born abroad. They are a level above England that's for sure. | | | |
| This World Cup on 11:21 - Jun 28 with 6901 views | dirk_doone |
You can see how much they wanted Messi in the final. They know he's box office. Virtual free pass to the semi-finals:
https://scontent-lhr6-2.xx.fbc
I still think Mbappe will beat him in the final though. The French team is ridiculously strong.
England would have to beat Mexico in the Azteca Stadium, where the hosts have only lost 2 of 89 competitive games ever, then Brazil, then Argentina, before facing France in the final. If they make it as far as the Brazil game, it will be quite an achievement. [Post edited 1 Jul 6:51]
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| This World Cup on 11:29 - Jun 28 with 6882 views | dirk_doone |
| This World Cup on 10:49 - Jun 28 by kingolaf |
Apart from the hydration breaks I’m a big fan of this World Cup.
Especially refereeing - cracking down on timewasting, wrestling at corners and not being sucked in by all the diving. VAR is quick as well. |
It's almost reached the stage where players have stopped bothering to dive, but not quite. The Argentinians are still at it. [Post edited 28 Jun 11:30]
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| This World Cup on 11:47 - Jun 28 with 6850 views | dirk_doone |
| This World Cup on 10:50 - Jun 28 by Ifonly |
France has to be the best team and squad at the world cup. They have so many quality players to choose from. It's amazing that 98 players at the world cup were born in France. That's nearly 4 squads full and doesn't even include the 3 players in the France squad who were born abroad. They are a level above England that's for sure. |
It's that hybrid mix of North African and West African, with a dash of Latin, which produces such a good team.
Mbappé- father Cameroon + mother Algeria, born in Paris
Olise - father Nigeria + mother Algeria, born in London
Dembélé - father Mali + mother Mauritania/Senegal, born in Vernon
Doué - father Ivory Coast + mother France, born in Angers
Barcola - father Togo + mother France, born in Villeurbanne
Cherki- father Italy/Algeria + mother Algeria, born in Lyon
Upamecano - father Guinea-Bissau + mother Senegal, born in Évreux
Tchouaméni- father Cameroon + mother Cameroon, born in Rouen
Saliba - father Lebanon + mother Cameroon, born in Paris
Mateta - father DR Congo + mother France, born in Paris
Gusto - father Portugal + mother Martinique, born in Lyon
Koné - father Ivory Coast + mother Ivory Coast, born in Colombes
Morocco are pretty good too, and most of their players were born in France or Spain.
[Post edited 28 Jun 12:40]
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| This World Cup on 12:45 - Jun 28 with 6761 views | dirk_doone |
| This World Cup on 22:17 - Jun 26 by SaintNick |
PS Are Scotland actually out now ? Nobody seems to know |
Yes, sports shops in Glasgow are having to get in DR Congo shirts now. | |
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| This World Cup on 12:57 - Jun 28 with 6742 views | IanSouthstander |
| This World Cup on 11:21 - Jun 28 by dirk_doone |
You can see how much they wanted Messi in the final. They know he's box office. Virtual free pass to the semi-finals:
https://scontent-lhr6-2.xx.fbc
I still think Mbappe will beat him in the final though. The French team is ridiculously strong.
England would have to beat Mexico in the Azteca Stadium, where the hosts have only lost 2 of 89 competitive games ever, then Brazil, then Argentina, before facing France in the final. If they make it as far as the Brazil game, it will be quite an achievement. [Post edited 1 Jul 6:51]
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I don't think England can play France in the final. If we get exceptionally lucky we would play France in the semi, which i fear we would lose. I can see Spain beating Argentina in the other semi, with France winning the final. |  | | |
| This World Cup on 12:59 - Jun 28 with 6735 views | dirk_doone |
| This World Cup on 12:57 - Jun 28 by IanSouthstander |
I don't think England can play France in the final. If we get exceptionally lucky we would play France in the semi, which i fear we would lose. I can see Spain beating Argentina in the other semi, with France winning the final. |
The fact is France are in the other half of the draw to England. What we think about it is another matter:
https://scontent-lhr6-2.xx.fbc [Post edited 28 Jun 13:02]
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| This World Cup on 13:07 - Jun 28 with 6700 views | IanSouthstander |
| This World Cup on 12:53 - Jun 27 by dirk_doone |
Cape Verde finished 2nd in their group yet they get drawn against the reigning champions, Argentina. Why doesn't one of the 3rd placed teams get drawn against them? It makes no sense. Football fans would have loved to see Cape Verde get through to the next stage, but I guess their national TV audience and contribution to advertising revenue isn't considered big enough.
Anyway, it's all geared towards another Messi v Mbappe final, only this time, you'd expect Mbappe to win.. |
Unfortunately the formula for the draw was devised long before the fixtures were clear. I would assume Cape Verde would have bitten your hand off if they were told they would be playing Argentina in the knock out stages.
Of the 16 teams failing to progress, for me the only real surprises were South Korea, Czech Rep, Uruguay and Turkey. | | | |
| This World Cup on 13:11 - Jun 28 with 6681 views | dirk_doone |
Yes, the main requirement of the draw was that France and Argentina should be kept apart until the final.
Without checking, I guess the previous World Cup's finalists are usually kept apart in this way.
It just seems odd that a 2nd placed group team should get Argentina at this stage, whereas 3rd-placed group teams get easier opposition. Maybe it's collateral of the complicated process of keeping the big hitters apart for as long as possible. [Post edited 28 Jun 13:17]
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| This World Cup on 00:17 - Jun 29 with 6421 views | dirk_doone |
Fans enjoying the England game:
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| This World Cup on 08:58 - Jun 29 with 6259 views | Gennaro_Contaldo |
| This World Cup on 00:17 - Jun 29 by dirk_doone |
Fans enjoying the England game:
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What utter chavs. Not one punch thrown properly. Add in all the screaming, not one brain cell in that room. | |
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